Slitter



Nov. 19, 1940. E. EL TYRRELL 25222051 SLITTER Filed Sept. 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Emmer R. TYRRELL am ma M/M Nov. 19, 1940.

E. R. TYRRELL;

SLI'JI'LER Filed Sept. 9. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EMMET R. TYRRE LL Nov. 19, 1940.

E. R. TYRRELL SLITTER Filed Sept. 9. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I1/www0@ EMMET R. TYRRE. LL

I Patented Nov. 19l 1940 UNITED STATES Emmet R. Tyrrell,

Fessler Machine Company', Sharon,`la,.za cor.

poration of lPennsylvania. Application september s,

iaa'ase'rlal No'. 294.139

'I'he present invention. relates to improvements' cut is to be had. The diiculty of quickly aiectin metal strip slittingassemblies and more particularly to new and useful improvementsin vthe construction of such slitters and in theA method' ij and means employed to vmount the same invma-g terial production and fabrication lines` Modern practice in steel sheet and st rilipre duction and utilization demands continuity ofv operationof equipment. and processes and for maximum plant eilciency the unproductive time required for resetting the various ,constituent elements of the plant for the production of dif'- ferent products or, in the case of arsteel strip manufacturing plant, for the production of strip of different widths and thicknesses must be kept to a minimum. ,'I'hus, in a plant 0f the kind speciiically mentioned, where the strip may be more economically formed'basically in relatively large widths, the means subsequently employed todivide the wide strip into a plurality of strips of the desired width, i. e., the slitter, should 'be capable of being changed over very quickly to cut strips of different nished widths as the demand dictates. This is particularly importantv inasmuchas the demand for strip steel embraces an innite variety of cross-sectional sizes and as the policy of steel producers is now to rely considerably on a largernumber of relatively smaller orders for strip of designated sizes for a`substantiai part of their business.

Heretofore, in the operation of strip slitter assembles, the practicehas been to provide a pair of housings in xed position in the production line and ingxed relation to other machines thereof and to assemble the cutters on arbors or rolls which would be interchanged inthe housings as the needs arose. It was found, however, that although the cutters on-each particular roll could be very accurately spaced and aligned withrelation to each other, dimculty was encountered when the rolls were assembled in the housings since inaccuracies in the bearings, bearing mountings, and housings often resulted in initial error in the lateral'positional relationship required between the mating cutters in the` upperA and lower rolls. Therefore, in addition to the screw adjustment necessary to give the proper vertical interval between .the cutterv rolls it was often necessary 'to align-the'rolls longitudinally and as these adjustments must be precise, a lengthy period of time was required for their proper execution. It should also be noted that the decree or absence of overlap given to the mating cutters is determined by .the'thickness of the stock to be operated on adjustof the respective cutters. l and assembly of the cutters and arbor units mentmust be very accurately made if a clean ing this ne adjustment in the above mentioned housings should be apparent.

{The principal object of the present invention 5 is .the provision-of a method and means whereby all the critical. adjustments, subsequently required ina slitter, may be made at a place removed from the 4location of the slitter whereby the slitter may be changed over to operate on diierent stock or to produce strips of dlierent cross-sectional dimensions in a very expeditious manner'. This is` accomplished, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, by pro- Viding .a number of sub-assemblies having housings, cutter arborsor rolls, adjusting screws and means to maintain the housings in fixed spaced relation, which sub-assemblies are adapted to -be -interchangeably inserted in and secured to a base xed in proper relation to other equipment of the production line. The arrangement is such that all *critical` adjustments, including cutter diameters, spacing and overlap, are made beforehand on the sub-assemblies and when a new sub-assemblyvis placed on the base it is only necessary to fasten it thereto and to connect the drive to the arbors to 'again place'the slitter in operating' condition. Thus the change-over may be accomplished in a very short time and by persons not particularly skilled in the details of operation of the machine.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for slitting strip steel whereby improved results in the cuts effected maj be obtained in a more rapid and economical manner. Considering the basic structure of the slitting machine and the-expansive forces exerted by the material being d operated on, it is apparent that heavy stock re-l quires the cutter carrying arbors to be of large. diameter to keep deflection thereof within reasonablebounds. 'I'hin stock exerts less expansive v force against the arbors and consequently the diameters of the arbors are vnot critical for strength purposes. However, due to the nature of the cuttingactiomthe matingr` cutters, which are overlapped in this instance, must have a very small lateral interval and such interval must be uniform throughout the entire peripheral range In the manufacture errors in the cutting face of thecutters unavoidably creep in and s uch inaccuracies are multi- Yplied inlarge diametered units'because of the greater radii and itis therefore very desirable to employ small diametered arbors and cutters for thin stock. By providing an arrangement whereby cutting units of optimum dimensions and proportions may lbe employed for stock of different thickness and whereby such units may be quickly interchanged, definite economies and improved results are attained in the slitting process.

For purposes of illustration, the invention will be described as embodied in certain preferred structural arrangements; and in the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of an assembled slitter embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a subassembly of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end view of the subassembly of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified subassembly of the apparatus of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a view of the modified subassembly broken away in part to show the fixed support for the arbors, and showing the outer movable housing in retracted position.

Referring now more particularly to the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the completely assembled machine consists of a suitable base I0, the slitter subassembly indicated generally at 20, a gear box II, couplings I2 extending between the cutter arbors and the gear box, and a motor I3 for driving the arbors through the gears housed in box II. Motors I3 in the gear drive assembly II are supported on the base I 0' and the couplings I2 are of -any suitable quick detachable type whereby the driving connections between the assembly 20 and the motor and gear drive may be readily broken and reestablished. Base I0 is adapted to be permanently fixed to the floor of the plant in which the machine is to be operated and so positioned and oriented that when the subassembly 20 is positioned thereon, the material passed through the subassembly will be in alignment with the materal passes of other machines and equipment used in conjunction with the slitter.

Extending upwardly from the outer edges of the base I0 and preferably integral therewith are four -stanchions I5 arranged in rectangular relation and provided with vertical parallel inner surfaces to slidably receive the edges of the housings of the interchangeable slitter subassembly 2U. To provide means to quickly secure the subassembly to the base I0 between the stanchions I5 a pair of pins I6 extend upwardly from the base III immediately outside of the stanchions I5, which pins are adapted to ,be received in and extend through lugs 2| extending outwardly from the lower end of the housings of the assembly 20. Pins I6 are each provided with a diametrical slot adjacent their upper ends to receive a wedge I'I which when tightly inserted clamps the lugs 2l and consequently the assembly 20 to the base I0.

The subassembly indicated generally at 20, and shown more clearly in Figures 3, 4 and 5, consists of a base 23 having a rigidly secured housing 24 extending upwardly from each end thereof. The housings 24 are each provided with the usual 4windows 25 to slidably receive the journal boxes 26 housing bearings 2'I which rotatably support the cutter carrying arbors. In accordance with usual practice the lower journal boxes 26 supporting the lower arbor are supported and xed in the lower ends of the windows 25. The upper bearing boxes 26 are provided with outwardly extending spaced ears 29 between the pairs of which are pivotally attached upwardly extending rods 30 which extend up through aperture lugs 3l of the housing caps 32 and are threaded at their upper ends to receive the spring compression nuts 34. A coil spring 35 extends about each oi the rods 30 between the adjacent lug 3l and nut 34 to exert a resilient upward force on the upper journal boxes 26. A hold-down and adjustment screw 31 is fixed to the upper and of each of the upper journal boxes 26 and extends upwardly through; a wormwheel housing 38 carried by each of the housing caps 32. In accordance with established practice, a worm Wheel (not shown) having a threaded bore llo receive screw 31 is mounted in each of the housings 38 and are adapted to be rotated by worms journaled in the contiguous housings 39 and coupled by a shaft 40 spanning the housings and actuated by hand wheel 4I. It should be apparent that rotation of the shaft 40 results in vertical movement of the screws 3'I and consequently vertical adjustment of the upper journal boxes 26. The screws provide the positive moving force in the downward direction while the springs 35 exert an upwardly moving force on the boxes.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the sides of the boxes 26 are each provided with a wide groove 43 to slidably receive the inwardly directed edges of the housings 24. To securely lock the journal boxes 26 in adjusted position an off-set plate 44 is bolted to the housing 24 along each outer edge of the journal boxes 26, the shape of the plates 44 providing flanges 45 which overlap the anges 46 of the boxes 26 to securely clamp the later anges to the housings 24. The housing caps 32 are securely fastened to the housings 24 by the stud bolts I8. When it is desired tol remove the cutter arbors and consequently the journal boxes 26 from the housings, the bolts I8 are unfastened and the caps 32 are removed, suitable crane hooks 49 being provided on the caps 32 to facilitate such removal, and thereafter the boxes 26 may be slid vertically out of the housings upon release of the pressure exerted by the plates 44.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the cutter carrying arbors each consists of a shaft having a center portion 50 of uniform diameter and a tapered end portion 5I adapted to receive the inner race of the bearing 21. Intermediate the central Vand tapered portions are screw-threaded sections 52 adapted to receive the cutter retaining and locking nuts 54. The

cutters, consisting of ring-like elements 55 are of spaced from each other and from the nuts 54 by suitable spacing sleeves 56 which may either be solid or built up from shim stock in a manner wel] known in the art. The cutters and spacers are abutted against the ilanges of the arbors adjacent the center portions 50 but opposite the screw-threaded sections 52. Locking nuts 58 screwed onto the outer ends of the arbors retain the adjacent bearing races in position. The ends of the arbors opposite the nuts 58 are provided with couplings 59 adapted to cooperate with the members I2 to provide a rotative drive for the rolls.

In the normal use of the apparatus thus far described the subassembly 20 may be bodily removed from the xed base I0 and positioned be apparent that on a suitable support removed from the area a completely assembled unit which may be readjusted or modified as the needs require. Fo'r the purpose of altering the diameters of the arbors and cutters the housing caps 3|! are removed after removing nuts I8 and, with the clamping plates 44 loosened, the arbor and cutter assemblies may thereafter be lifted out of the top of the housings 24. Diii'erent arbors may then be assembled in the bearings 21 and bearing blocks 26 and the arbor assemblies may then be reinserted into the housings'A and all necessary adjustments made before the subassembly is repositioned on the base I0.- As stated above, a number of these subassemblies may be provided and while one is in use one or more others may be prepared for subsequent operations. With this arrangement itis possible to have one assembly set upfor cutting thin stock and another set up for cutting heavy stock and as the thickness of the material being produced cr utilized is varied the slitting assembly maybe very quickly changed over to satisfactorily effect the slitting phase of the production or utilization process.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modied form of subassembly corresponding generally to the assembly 20 of the first form described but in which the inner housing designated 10 is of greater width to accommodate a pair of spaced axially aligned bearings 'Il for the support of each of the cutter' carrying arbors. The outer housing 12 is adapted to be movedroutwardly while the cutter carrying arbors remain in position and for this purpose the outer adapted to be laterally moved through the window in housing 'I2 and aslidable connection is provided between =th`e worm wheel (not shown) housed in the housing cap 'I5 and the Worm operating shaft 16. For the purpose of eiecting such outward movement of the housing I2 a screw 11 supported adjacent its ends in the blocks 18 and 'I9 extends in threaded relation through a threaded opening in the housing 12- and is adapted to be rotated bysuitable crank or other means 80. Blocks 'I8 and 19 are suitably secured to a base 8l supporting the housings 10 and 12. It should its outer position the arbors will remain in ex. tended horizontal position because of the spaced bearings 1| in the housing 'mand in this relative position of the parts the cutter and spacers maybe readily removedand interchanged on the arbors with the removal of the arbors from the subassembly. Thus the time and labor required for general readjustment or change -in the intervals, spacing and size of the cutters on the arbors may be further reduced and further economies effected in the normal operation of theapparatus.

It should now be apparent that the present invention provides a-method and apparatus which accomplishes `the objects set out above. Since all the critical adjustments for a slitter required in subsequent operations may be made at a place removed from the operating location of the slitter, very precise and accurate adjustments may be made which may subsequently be bodily placed A Ai'n use in the production tionof the complete facilities of such line may line and the interrupbe kept at a Further, by providing a ments mayL be practically employed for strip of varying thickness, improved results may in ganbors journaled in bearing boxes 13 arewith the housing 12 moved to to detachably system .whereby correctly designed cutter elelbase 6. .In -apparatus for f3 eraly be obtained, thus further adding to the economies eil'ected by The above specically described embodiments `ofthe invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the a motor mounted on said base, power transmission means mounted on said base and operatively connected with said motor, a plurality of stanchions extending upwardly from said base, a subassembly comprisinga pair of spaced housings, means to ings in spaced relation, a pair of cutter carrying arbors journaled in said housings, means to adjust the interval between said arbors and means on said arbors to maintain the cutters vcarried thereon in adjusted positionlongitudideparting from the spirit' maintain said housthe use of the invention. 4

said stanchions; quick detachable couplings between said power transmission. device and said arbors, and quick detachable means to secure said subassembly to said base. 2. In apparatus for slitting metal strip th combination of a ixed base,l a power tr sion device mounted in xed relation to said wardly from said base, a subassembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arrelatively xed housings adapted to bsuupprted on said base and between said stanchio quick detachable couplings between said power transmission device and said arbors, and quick detachable means to secure said subassembly to said base. Y

3. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a base adapted to be 'fixed in respaced relatively supported on said base, quick detachable couplings adapted toA connect said power transmission device with said arbors and quick detachable means adapted to secure said subassembly to said base. r A 4. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a-'base adapted to be ixed in relation to other equipment in a strip production o utilization line tending upwardly comprising a pair of spaced parallel cutter carryiing arbors journaled' in spaced relatively xed housings adapted to be supported on said base and between said housings quick detachable means to secure said subassembly to said base, and means to vdrive said arbors.

5. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a base adapted to be fixed in resecuresaid subassembly to said slitting vmetal 'strip the combination of a base adapted to be xed in rexed housings adapted to be are in assembled relation,

lation to other equipment of a strip production or utilization line, said basehaving spaced upwardly extending restraining elements, a subassembly comprising a pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors journaled in spaced relatively fixed housings adapted to be supported on said base and to be detachably secured thereto, the arrangement of the parts being such that certain surfaces ofsaid upwardly extending restraining elements will be engaged by certain vertical surfaces of said housings, when parts whereby said housings will be restrained from movement in a horizontal direction.

7. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a base adapted to be fixed in relation to other equipment of a strip production or utilization line, a subassembly comprising a pair of lspaced parallel cutter carrying arbors -journaled in spaced relatively fixed housings adapted to be detachably secured to said base, a rigid strut connecting said housings, a screw carried by the upper end of each of said housings, windows in said housings. journal boxes supporting said arbors and positioned withinsaid windows, and means responsive to the rotation of said screws to vary the interval vbetween said arbors.

8.`In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a base adapted to be xed in relation to other equipment of a strip production or utilization plant, a subassembly comprising an pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors journaled in spaced housings adapted to be detachably connected 'with said base, a rigid strut connecting said housings, a detachable cap on the upper end of each of said housings, a vertical window'in each of said housings extending up to said caps,-journal boxes supporting said arbors and provided-with recesses adapted to receive portions of said housings peripheral of said windows, means to detachably secure said caps to said housings and a screw carried by each of said caps, said screws being operative when the caps are in assembled position, to vary the interval between said arbors, the journal boxes being slidable up out of the housings when.said caps are removed.

9. In apparatus for .slitting metal strip the combination of a base adapted to be xed in relation to other equipment of a strip production or utilization plant, a subassembly comprising a `pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors journaled in spaced housings tachably secured to said base, each of said arbors ,prising a. member adapted to adapted to be deconsisting of a shaft having means at one end to detachably connect with a rotating device, a center portion of substantially uniform diameter adapted to receive an assembly of cutters and spacers and means to clamp said cutters and spacers in adjusted position on said center portion.

10. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a base' adapted to be iixed in relation to other equipment in a strip production or utilization plant, a subassembly adapted to be detachably secured to said base and comprising a support, a pair of upwardly extending housings carried by said support and adapted to rotatably support a pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors, and means carried with said support to move one of said housings outwardly from the other.

11. In apparatus for slitting metal strip the combination of a support, a housing extending upwardly from said support, a pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors journaled in said housing in bearing surfaces spaced axially along the axes of said arbors, a second housing extending upwardly from said support and adapted to rotatably receive the outer ends of said arbors, Y

means on said support to move said second housings outwardly from said rst housing and said arbors whereby the ends of said arbors adjacent said second housing will be exposed, a plurality of cutting and spacing members on said arbors adapted to be received thereon over the said adjacent ends and means at said adjacent ends of said arbors to clamp said cutters and spacers on said arbors. n

12. In apparatus for slitting metal sheets or strip the combination of a base adapted to be xed in relation to other equipment of a sheet or strip production or utilization line, said base having two pairs of spaced parallel stanchions extending upwardly thererom, a subassembly comoverlie the upper face of said frame between said stanchions and carrying adjacent either end thereof an upwardly extending housing adapted to be slidably received between said stanchions and to be restrained thereby throughout a major part of their heighth when said subassembly. is applied to said base, means to detachably secure said member to said base, a pair of spaced parallel cutter carrying arbors journaled insaid housing, and quick detachable couplings adapted to connect said arbors with a driving means.

, Emmrnryaanm. 

